Korean J Intern Med.  2015 Mar;30(2):191-197. 10.3904/kjim.2015.30.2.191.

Awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in current smokers: a nationwide survey

• Mun SY
• Hwang YI
• Kim JH
• Park S
• Jang SH
• Seo JY
• Kim JK
• Park YB
• Shim JJ
• Jung KS

• KMID: 2160683
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2015.30.2.191

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Cigarette smoking is the most common risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, few studies of the attitudes toward COPD of smokers, the group at risk of developing this condition, have been conducted. The purpose of this study was to explore the awareness of and attitudes toward COPD of current smokers.
METHODS
The sample consisted of 502 individuals aged 45 and older from throughout Korea who smoked at least 10 packs of cigarettes per year. Telephone interviews using a structured questionnaire were conducted with respondents.
RESULTS
First, we evaluated the health status of subjects, finding that 45.4% considered themselves to be in good health. We also asked about COPD-related symptoms, and 60.6% of subjects reported such symptoms. However, only 1.2% of subjects had been diagnosed with or treated for COPD, only 0.4% spontaneously mentioned COPD as a respiratory disease, and only 26.5% recognized COPD as a respiratory disease after seeing a list of such diseases. Television ranked as the top source of information about COPD. The willingness of 45.0% of subjects to stop smoking increased after being informed about COPD.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite having COPD-related symptoms, most smokers did not know that COPD is a respiratory disease. The attitudes of smokers toward COPD and smoking cessation varied according to socioeconomic status. In summary, a continuous effort to increase the awareness of COPD among smokers is needed. Additionally, strategies tailored according to different socioeconomic groups will also be necessary.

Keyword

Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive; Attitude; Awareness

MeSH Terms

Aged
Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*psychology
*Awareness
Consumer Health Information
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice/*ethnology
Health Promotion
Health Status
Health Surveys
Humans
Male
Mass Media
Middle Aged
Patient Compliance/ethnology
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/diagnosis/*ethnology/psychology/therapy
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Risk Factors
Risk Reduction Behavior
Smoking/*adverse effects/*ethnology/prevention & control/psychology
Smoking Cessation/ethnology
Socioeconomic Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
Time Factors